US2720774A - Key actuatable lock - Google Patents

Description

C. S. GEHRiE KEY ACTUATABLE LOCK Oct. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 2l, 1953 W www.

Oct. 18, 1955 c. s. GEHRIE 297202774 KEY ACTUATABLE LOCK Filed Jan. 2l, 1953 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. @Zafira ,f $951): e)

United States Patent KEY ACTUATABLE LOCK Charles S. Gehrie, Mendham, N. J., assgnor to Presto Lock Company, Garfield, N. J., a limited partnership consisting of Abraham Levine, Mendham, N. J., a general partner; Mack Povill, New York, N. Y., a general partner; and A. Loeb Salkin, New York, N. Y., a hmited partner Application January 21, 1953, Serial No. 332,266 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-71) This invention relates to an improved key actuatable lock for use in releasably securing together separable parts, such e. g. as the body and cover of a container, suitcase or the like.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel lock structure of the type having pivotally supported, oscillatable bolt members which are adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with a slotted keeper plate, the movements of said bolt members being induced by a slide plate that is controlled by rotatable cam means adapted to be actuated by engagement of a key therewith; the lock structure including a novel housing assembly to contain said bolt members, slide plate and cam means; the lock structure further including a cylinder to rotatably support a key barrel, and retention clip means for retaining said cylinder in operative assembled relation to the housing assembly, said cam, and to the body of a container or the like to be served by the lock.

T he invention has for another object to provide a cylinder and key barrel assembly, wherein the key barrel is removable subject to interchange for correspondence to a selected one of a variety of key shapes; said assembly including means adapted to releasably hold a selected key barrel in the cylinder.

The above and other objects will be understood from a reading of the following detailed description of this invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of separable parts of a container or the like, showing the lock mechanism of this invention operatively applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a sectional View of said separable parts of the container or the like, showing the applied lock mechanism in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 1, but drawn on an enlarged scale,

and showing an actuating key engaged in said lock mechanism and operated to lock the latter.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing the bolt members of the lock mechanism in keeper plate engaging'position; and Fig. 5 is a view, similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing the bolt members of the lock mechanism in released relation to the keeper plate.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 6 6 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary verticall sectional view, taken on line 7 7 in Fig. 6.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates one of the separable parts, e. g. a container body, and 11 the other separable part, e. g. a container cover, to which the lock mechanism of this invention is applied. As shown, the key actuatable mechanism of the lock is aiiixed to the body part 10, and the keeper plate which is releasably engageable thereby is aiixed to the cover part 11.

The key actuatable mechanism of the lock comprises a frame member 12 having side walls 13, a forward end wall 14 and a rearward end wall 15 upstanding therefrom. The forward end wall 14 and adjacent ends of the side walls 13 are cut away to provide lateral openings 16 leading outwardly from the respective sides of the frame member 12 at the forward end portion thereof. Struck up from the respective side marginal portions of frame plate 12, to upstand therefrom in rearwardly spaced relation to the forward end thereof, are transverse fulcrum posts 17.

A pair of bolt members 18 are supported upon the frame member 12, respectively adjacent opposite sides of the forward end portion thereof. Each bolt member 18 is provided at its forward free end portion with a laterally and outwardly projecting bolt nosing 19, and with a laterally and inwardly projecting heel portion 20. Each bolt member 18 is provided, in the outer side margin of its rear end portion, with an indenting notch 21 which straddles and embraces the inner edge of a fulcrum post 17, whereby said bolt members are pivotally supported upon the frame member 12 for lateral swinging movements by which their bolt nosings 19 are projected outwardly through the side openings 16 of the frame member or inwardly withdrawn through the latter. Each bolt member is further provided, at its rear end portion, with a laterally and inwardly projecting tail piece 22.

Longitudinally slidable upon the frame member 12, between its side walls 13, is a slide plate 23 which is provided with a transverse opening 24 adapted to receive, and its forward and rear edges to be engaged by, a rotatable eccentric cam means, as hereinafter described. Integral with and projecting forwardly from said slide plate 23 is a central longitudinal arm 25 which terminates, at its forward end, in a laterally enlarged thrust head 26 which is disposed between the bolt members 18 for operative engagement therewith. The rearward end of said thrust head 26 is formed to provide oppositely extending transverse retractor shoulders 27.

The cam means by which the slide plate is engaged comprises an upstanding hub 28. Connected with this hub 28, in eccentric relation to the axis thereof, is a cam member 29 which is disposed within the opening 24 of the slide plate 23 between the forward and rear edges of said opening. The major axis of the eccentric cam member 29, in the respective positions of rest of said cam member, is aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the slide plate 23. Projecting from the underside of the cam member 29, in axial alignment with the hub 28, is a hub extension 30 which extends downwardly through an opening with which the frame member opening comprises a section 31 of minor radius, corresponding to the radius of the hub extension 30, and a section 32 of major radius, whereby to form, in connection with said opening diametrically opposite stop shoulders 33 and 33 intermediate said sections. Projecting radially from the hub extension 30, to Ymove in the major section 32 of said opening, is a stop lug 34 which, by engagement with one or the other of said stop shoulders, determines respective positions of rest of the cam member 29. Formed in the upper end of the hub 28 is an upwardly open transverse slot 35, which is adapted to be operatively engaged by an actuating key by which the lock is operated, as will be hereinafter more particularly described. This slot 35 is disposed parallel to the major axis of the cam member 29. Supported by and across upstanding walls of the frame member 12 is a bearing plate 36, which is provided with a bearing portion 37 in which the hub 28 of the cam means is journaled. The side walls of the frame member 12 are preferably provided with suitably disposed, upwardly projecting positioning lugs 38 which engage in correspondingly notched marginal portions of the bearing plate 36, whereby to hold the lat- 12 is provided. Saidl "i said frame member. The bearing plate .36* is also provided at its opposite end with upstanding spacer tongues 39, to predetermine the overlying spaced'relation thereto of atop housingplate. i A .v I

The housing assembly by which the lockmechanism is supported comprises a top housing plate having a main Y body part 40 which is provided with a rearward extension, 41,Y preferably of lreduced width, extending vin thevplane' thereof. The :body part 40, ofV the top. housing plate bridges over the'spar tongues 390i the bearing plate 36,@so as tok lie ina plane parallel to but spaced above s aid bearing plate, thus providingv intermediate space into which the upperend of the cam member hub 28 extends. DQWnwardlyY offset from the torward end of thefmain body-.part 40ct the Ytop housing Vplate,by'a `,dependent angular portion 42, a forwardly extendingcover section 43 which overlies the forward, portion of the frame member 12 and, itscontained bolt members 1s. Ysaid Ycorn-,r section 4Q is folded, at 44, aboutthe forward zend of the frame member-,11 to` forin'adouhled vback section 45 which,Y underlies and supports the forwardy end portion Aof said frame member- 1,2, I Underlyingrand supportingthe rearward end portion of the fame member A12 isa bottom housing plate 4 6. Upwardly offset from the' rearward end of the bottom housing plate 46 by an upstanding angularportion 47,' is, a rearward extension 48'which underlies `the rearward extension 41 of the top housing plate. The forward endk portion ofthe bottom housing plate.46 overlaps the underside of theV free end'portionV of doubled back section 45 of the top housing plate,A VExtending laterally respectively from opposite sides ofthe forward end portion of the bottom housing plate 46 are clenching tongues l49, whichv are turned upwardly across the sides of the ;frame member 12,'and then clenched over the coverV section 4310i the top housing plate, thus interlocking the housing plates together ,in their assembled enclosingand supporting relation to theframe member 12,V and the lock mechanismrpalts contained therein.

In mounting vthe lock mechanism in operative relation to a ,container or the like to be servedthereby, the assembly is applied to thegunderside-of the wall of the container body 10 adjacent to the edge thereof to which the edge ofthe container coverV 11 is fopposed, .and-,in such position that the bolt--memberkcontaining forward end portion of the assembly projects outwardly beyond the edge of .thercontainer body 10,Y whereby, when the rcon-l tainer cover 41.71 is closed upon said container body, kit can passV through the opening of a keeper plate 50 which is affixed, by screws, rivets ortthe like 51, to the container cover 11,1to Adepend from the underside f the latter in opposition to said assembly. When the assembly isf thus arranged, it is held in place by a fastening screw, rivet or the like 51Tt which is engaged through the Vsuperposed top and bottom Yhousing plate extensions 41 vand 48,' and the container body 10.

Theassembly being in placeis ready to have assembled therewith and'with the container Abody 10a key barrel supporting cylinder. Provided in the bodyipart 40.A of the top housing plate is an opening 53, which is disposed in axially aligned relation to the cam member `hub 28. Extending radially inward from the margin of said opening 53 Yis a key tongue5r4, Provided inthe Wall of the container body 10 is athrough opening 5,5, whichcorres ponds to and is aligned `withthe opening 5,3- Qfthertop housing platebody part 40. i t Y i i Thekey barrel supporting cylinder comprises a;cylin drical body 6 havingV a downwardlyopen chamber or bore 57 which is closedat its upper or outer end by'a t'op; walll 5.8. Said top wall Y58V is formed to provide an {external annular'l ange 59.` Formed in jsaid top wall 58 is an opening '60, leading outwardly from` the .chamber or bore 5,7A of cylinderY body, thus providing an internal annularA Si?? Shoulder i6,1. Rotatably mounted within the chamber or bore 5.7 0f. 'the cylinder body 'iS fi hollow thev Y thestop shoulder Y61. Said key barrel is closed at its upper end by an extension 63 of Vreduced diameter, which projects exteriorly through said top opening of the cylinder body. Means to retain the key barrel within the cylinder body, in operative relation thereto, comprises a keeper washer 64. This keeper washer is provided with supporting legs 65 respectively dependent from its margins at diametrically opposite sides thereof. These supporting legs 65 are received in perpendicular grooves or channels 66.which indentthe internal wallV surfaces of the chamber or bore of the cylinder body, and which extend to the lower end of the latter,'whereby not only to retain the keeper washer against downward displacement from its operative key barrel supporting position, Abut also against rotative displacement from a required predetermined position within lthe cylinder-body. Indenting the external wall surface of thecylinder body 5 6 is a perpendicular grooveor channel 67, which opens endwise from` the lower or bottom end of the cylinder body.

To assemble the keybarrel supporting cylinder in connection with the wall ofthe container bodyv 10, V,and in operative-relation to the lock mechanism assembly, the Y cylinder Vbody 56is'inserted downwardly through the opening 55 in the Ycontainer body wall, and thence. through the opening53 in the body vpart 40 of the top housingY plate, untilits annular top end flange 59 abuts Vthe outer face of said container body wall. When thus arranged, the ,open lower or bottom end of the cylinder body V5,6 projectsz into `the space between the bearing plate 36 and the body part 40 of the top housing plate, so that the cam member hub 28V isY entered within the lower end of the chamber or bore 57 ofthe-.cylinder body in axially aligned relation t0 the key barrel 62 supported by said cylinder body.,`

Whenrso assembling the cylinder, its external channelf or groove 67 is aligned with and so as to receive the key tongue 5,4 of the body part 40 of the top housing plate, thus interlocking the cylinder with thelatter against rotative displacement from its Yoperative assembled relation to the lock mechanism assembly. Means'is provided to secure ,the cylinder against outward axial displace.- ment from the lock mechanism assembly and from the container body wall, while atithe'same time serving, to-Y gether with the v,fastening screw, rivet or the like 52,10 secure the lock mechanism assembly to theY container body 10. This means comprises a pronged spring clip element 6,8,V the prongs 69of which are adapted to straddle the cylinder Ybody 56.. The external wall surfaces of the inner end portionvof the cylinder body are provided, re-

spectively at opposite sides'of said. cylinder body, with transversechannels or groovesx70, which extend adjacent to and parallel with the underface of the body part V40y of the top housing plate. When the cylinder is disposed in place, asabove described, the clip element 68 isY insertedlaterally through the open space between the bearing plate 36 and the body part 40 of the top housing plate, whereby to Yengage theY cylinder straddlingV prongs 69 t thereof through said-channels or'grooves 70 and beneath and in engagement with theunderface of saidY body part 40 of the tophousing plate, thus strongly interlocking the cylinder lwith thelock mechanism housingV assembly andY with the wall of the container body 10.

1 The keeperl washer 64 is provided'with Va lslotted key Y passage opening 71 which is aligned with andV .Opposed to the key reception slot35 of the camV member hubV 28, and which is maintained `against displacement Vfrom'such aligned relation thereto by 'reason of the predetermined interengagedr relationiof said keeperwasher and cylinder body, and by reason ofthe factthat the'cylinder bodyis held Yagainst rotativeshift or movement by the engagement in itschannel'or groove 67 ofthe key-tongue '54`ofr the' body -palt404 of the top housing plate. t The exteriorly projecting extension 63 of the key barrel is longitudinally Ypierced Yto provide a key admission opening 72 of a cross sectional shape correspondingto the cross sectional shape of a selected key 73 by which the lock mechanism is to be actuated. Key barrels respectively provided with variously shaped key admission openings 72 corresponding to various key shapes can be interchangeably assembled with the cylinder, whereby to condition the lock mechanism for actuation only by a given selected key.

The container cover 11 being closed relative to the container body 10, so that the forwardly projecting end portion of the lock mechanism assembly enters through the aperture of the slotted keeper plate 50, to actuate the lock mechanism, the key 73 is inserted through the key barrel 62-63 and keeper washer 64 so that its extremity enters the slot 35 of the cam member hub 28. The entered key is turned clockwise, whereby to rotate the cam 29 against the forward edge of the slide plate opening 24, thus moving the slide plate forward so as to push the thrust head 26 against the heel portions 20 of the bolt members 18, and thereby to swing outward the bolt members 18 so as to project the nosings 19 thereof behind and in holding engagement with the keeper plate 50 (see Figs. l to 4 inclusive). To release the lock mechanism, the inserted key 73 is turned counterclockwise, whereby to rotate the cam 29 against the rearward edge of the slide plate opening 24, thereby retracting the slide plate 23 and thrust head 26, so that the shoulders 27 of the latter drag against the tail pieces 22 of the bolt members 18, thus swinging the latter inwardly to withdraw their nosings 19 from engaged relation to the keeper plate 50, whereupon the container cover 11 can be opened relative to the container body 10.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. In a key actuatable lock for releasably locking together separable parts, a slotted keeper plate adapted to be mounted on a wall of one said part, a lock mechanism to engage said keeper plate, a housing to support said lock mechanism, the lock mechanism housing assembly being adapted to be mounted on a wall of the other said part in such relation thereto that a freely projecting forward end portion of said assembly is engageable through said keeper plate when said parts are closed together; said lock mechanism comprising a frame member, pivoted bolt members supported by said frame member and adapted to be laterally projected from opposite sides of the forward end portion thereof for locking engagement with said keeper plate, a slide plate mounted on said frame member having means for oscillating said bolt members, a rotatable cam member for actuating said slide plate, said cam member having an upstanding key engageable hub, a bearing plate for said hub, said bearing plate being supported by said frame member in overlying relation to the cam member; the housing for said lock mechanisms comprising a top housing plate, a bottom housing plate, and means for securing said housing plates together in their housing relation to the lock mechanism; a cylinder adapted to extend through the wall of the part upon which the lock mechanism housing assembly is to be mounted and through the top housing plate in axially aligned opposition to the key engageable hub of the cam member, a key barrel rotatably mounted in said cylinder through which an actuating key can be passed into operative engagement with said cam member hub, and means to releasably interlock said cylinder in affixed relation to the top housing plate.

2. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, a removable keeper washer within the cylinder to retain the key barrel in operative assembled relation to the latter, and means to hold said keeper washer in a predetermined assembled relation to the cylinder, said keeper washer having a key passage opening therethrough.

3. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, wherein the means to releasably interlock the cylinder in aixed relation to the top housing plate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lock mechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the top housing plate and with itsprongs straddling the cylinder' body, and said cylinder body having transverse grooves in its opposite sides through which the clip prongs extend.

4. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, wherein the means to releasably interlock the cylinder in aixed relation to the top housing plate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lock mechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the top housing plate and with its prongs straddling the cylinder, said cylinder body having transverse grooves in its opposite sides through which the clip prongs extend, and said cylinder body and said top housing plate having cooperative means to prevent rotative displacement of the former.

5. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, wherein the means to releasably interlock the cylinder in axed relation to the top housing plate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lock mechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the top housing plate and with its prongs straddling the cylinder body, said cylinder body having transverse grooves in its opposite sides through which the clip prongs extend, said cylinder body and said top housing plate having cooperative means to prevent rotative displacement of the cylinder, a removable keeper washer within the cylinder to retain the key barrel in operative assembled relation to the latter, and means to hold said keeper washer in predetermined assembled position in the cylinder, said keeper washer having a key passage opening therethrough.

6. In a key actuatable lock for releasably locking together separable parts, a slotted keeper plate adapted to be mounted on a wall of one said part, a lock mechanism to engage said keeper plate, a housing to support said lock mechanism, the lock mechanism housing assembly being adapted to be mounted on a wall of the other said part in such relation thereto that a freely projecting forward end portion of said assembly is engageable through said keeper plate when said parts are close together; said lock mechanism comprising a frame member, pivoted bolt members supported by said frame member and adapted to be laterally projected from opposite sides of the forward end thereof for locking engagement with said keeper plate, a slide plate mounted on said frame member having means for oscillating said bolt members, a rotatable cam member for actuating said slide plate, said cam member having an upstanding key engageable hub portion, a bearing plate for said hub portion, said bearing plate being supported by the frame member in overlying relation to the cam member; the housing for said lock mechanism comprising a top housing plate having a body part overlying said bearing plate in spaced relation thereto and a downwardly offset cover section overlying the forward end portion of the frame member and the bolt members contained therein, said cover section having a doubled back end portion to underlie the forward end portion of the frame member, a bottom housing plate, and means for securing said housing plates together in their housing relation to the lock mechanism; a cylinder extending downwardly through the wall of the part upon which the lock mechanism housing assembly is mounted and through the body part of the top housing plate in axially aligned relation to the key engageable hub of the cam member, a key barrel rotatably mounted in said cylinder through which an actuating key can be passed into operative engagement with said cam member hub, and means to releasably interlock said cylinder in fixed relation to the body part of the top housing plate of the lock mechanism housing assembly.

7. In a key actuatable lock according to claim 6, wherein the means to releasably interlock the cylinder in aixed relation to the top housing plate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lock mechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the top housing plate and withits prongs lstraddling the cylinder body, 'said cylinder bodyrhaving -transverse grooves'nits opposite sides through which the clip prongs l extend; and saidr cylinder body and said top housing plate having cooperative means to prevent rotative displacement of the former.

'8. In Ya key actuatable lock according to claimV 7, in-

cludinga removable keeper washer Within the cylinder to References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Yale Apr. 2, 18,78

- V Nov.V 16, Hambujer July 19, "Fairhust Augf24, Kaye Mar. l5,

'f Faust etal. Nov. 21, Johnson Dec. 12, VV'Viehvveger Aug. 7, ALooney Dec. 18, Viehweger Dec. 15,

FOREIGN 'PATENTS .Germany June 1,

VFrance June 1l,

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